Firefighters are at the scene of a five-alarm fire on Kapiolani Boulevard.

KHON2 News report on the fire's aftermath with interviews

EVENTS DURING DAYS 1 TO 4 (Friday to Monday): In the early afternoon of July 14th, the smartphone news alerts began rolling in about a seven alarm fire raging on the 26th floor of a thirty six story condominium tower in the heart of Honolulu. The fire ultimately devastated three floors containing approximately fifty apartments, with over a hundred firefighters battling five hours to bring the high-rise blaze under control.

During the initial hours of uncertainly, our community watched social media reports of many residents sheltering in place while others waited behind barricades outside, wondering about their family and friends inside a burning structure of almost six hundred apartment units. We viewed the fear and tension among everyone concerned.

Tragically, a 54 year old Hawaiian Airlines in-flight manager, his elderly mother, and their pet dog perished in one unit, while a 71 year old dental assistant retiree succumbed in another apartment. Their families share remembrances about their loved ones in these interviews.

KHON2 News
KHON2 News

In a blink of an eye, many of us seniors normally preoccupied with the day to day struggles of physical ailments and the high cost of medical and living expenses in Hawaii are counting our blessings compared to the plight of the many displaced Marco Polo fire victims, a number of whom are elderly and on fixed incomes.

We are grateful for the bravery of the first responders who worked tirelessly into the night to bring the blaze under control, the efficiency of government leaders including our city mayor mobilizing on site, and the compassion of Red Cross/Salvation Army volunteers and other charitable organizations bringing resources to the victims.

It's heartwarming to see the community outpouring of donations being walked into the Marco Polo lobby, as well as the business community aid being organized, including a $100,000 grant from Associa, the Marco Polo condominium management company. However, given the uphill battle that many of these victims face, with over 200 apartments dealing with water and smoke damage, so much more is needed. As reported by KHON2 news linked here, cash donations are the immediate priority at this point.

DAY 5 (Tuesday) MESSAGE FROM ONE FIRE VICTIM SURVIVOR TO OTHERS - Three years ago, my husband and I were sitting down to a routine evening with our beloved dog and cats, when a fire ripped through our two bedroom wooden townhouse within minutes. Nothing can describe those panicked moments of trying to locate our pets, getting away from the flames, and banging on the doors of our neighbors to warn them. I can only imagine the feelings and thoughts of those of you in the Marco Polo building, waiting hours to be told what to do and where to go next.

The shell shock lasts for days, even as you sit at the shelter realizing that you're safe, even as friends and neighbors walk up to you and press money into your hands. The daze continues when you go back and view the wreckage of your home and realize that not only all your possessions are gone, but all the things that those items represent. Irreplaceable objects passed down from generations of your family, mementos from past life events, creations by your children who are now adults. In my case, we also no longer had our vehicles and we didn't know whether our cats had safely exited.

As difficult as this may be for you to believe today, as you grieve for everything that you've lost, things will get better. You will deal with the maze of replacing your identity and day to day documents, realizing for the first time how many different institutions you need to deal with, your bank, the DMV, etc. You may undergo the frustrations, as we did, of years of restoration before the home that you own becomes livable again.

But you will be uplifted by the outpouring of support. My family rallied around us, and we were so fortunate that my sister was able to provide us with her rental so that we could have a base station to work from. Her generosity and the kindness of everyone, including total strangers, enabled us to get through years of recovery, and the slow rebuilding. Many helped us, and in particular we are so grateful for the Red Cross' aid on our behalf. We have just donated to them today and are happy to have an opportunity to pay it forward, because the Marco Polo project is one of the largest disaster relief cases that the Hawaii chapter has been involved with.

I can tell you from our experience that things look bleak today, the financial and emotional losses seem unsurmountable. But one day, whether it be months or years down the road, you will be able to look around and realize that your life is normal again, that you've gained enrichment from the compassion that exists out there for you, and you have new memories and appreciation of your island home. Our thoughts are with you - Chris -

DAY 6 (Wednesday): BENEFIT CONCERT BY LOCAL MUSICIANS -

Kudos to local entertainers and radio personalities who are banding together to perform a benefit concert at Ward Warehouse on Wednesday evening, with proceeds benefiting the Red Cross for Marco Polo aid efforts.

DAY 7 (Thursday): SOCIAL MEDIA GRASS ROOTS - There's been generous support from large businesses such as Safeway and Home Depot, but we're also seeing grass roots aloha from home and small businesses. Let us explain: Our dogs' Instagram account has six times the number of followers compared with our page, so cute pups win the popularity contest over senior citizens hands down. Because we wanted to remember the small pet that perished in the fire, we posted a link of this webpage to our Instagram dog account.

The resulting comments by viewers from the California west coast to the New Jersey shore were heartwarming, including donation offers from Ohio. Thoughts and prayers came from as far as Italy. The feedback from the local home and small businesses have been incredible, from the AirBnB owner who has offered to donate one week's use of her home to displaced fire victims, to the Etsy pet accessories maker who is designing a special edition dog bandana with a portion of the proceeds going to the Red Cross. These types of donations represent a significant part of a home/small business owner's resources and income, so it's such a wonderful demonstration of our island aloha spirit. Stay tuned . . .

DAY 8 (Friday): BENEFIT BREAKFAST The Red Cross will the beneficiary of Finance Factors' annual charity breakfast, taking place at their building courtyard in the heart of our downtown financial district (1164 Bishop Street) during 6:30 to 9 a.m. on Friday, the one week anniversary of the MP fire. Details for the $6 breakfast are included in this KHON2 video.

BBQ and WINE - Local businesses are beginning to dedicate a portion of their daily proceeds to Red Cross Hawaii for MP relief efforts. On Wednesday, L & L Hawaiian Barbecue donated 10% of its Ward Entertainment Center location sales. A portion of Wine and Canvas Hawaii's Friday painting session seat purchases are being set aside.

Finance Factors charity breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday.

Wine and Art Hawaii fundraiser in Waikiki for the victims of last week's Marco Polo fire .

DAY 9 (Saturday): DOG LOVERS SHOW ALOHA - As we mentioned on Day 7, pet owners are rallying through their social media accounts to raise cash donations. We are so happy that Kiara Sakamoto, a long time animal lover, artist and zoologist, reached out to us. Her Etsy shop, Fuzzologist, lists products and art inspired by her own pets and created with love.

Kiara has designed a limited edition black aloha print bandana for pets, modeled here by her own fuzzy chiweenie Dodger. Through collaboration with her friend Corinne, a matching bow tie for humans is also available for pre-order. Kiara and Cori are donating 75% of the total sale price directly to the Red Cross of Hawaii, earmarked specifically for the victims of the Marco Polo fire. Please consider showing your aloha to help our neighbors, friends, and family get back on their feet.

The bandanas and bowties can be pre-ordered at the Fuzzologist Etsy Shop via the link button below. Kiara and Cori's Instagram accounts respectively are @fuzzologist and @crimson_dyn4m0 if you'd like to follow their posts. Mahalo to them both for their generosity, creative hard work and compassion. Thank you to those who have already ordered, we can't wait to see the posts of your furbabies in their aloha wear.

Israel Kamakawiwi'ole performance set to scenes of the Hi'ilawe waterfall and Waipi'o Valley on the Big Island of Hawai'i to bring you five minutes of serenity. Photos by Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp

DAY 10 (Sunday): On a day when most of us are off from work, church groups and families are gathering supplies for those in need. MP residents have been going through the processes of insurance claims, inspections, cleanup, and applications for financial aid. The condo management company reports that the focus is expanding to other needed services, such as counseling and childcare, to provide a positive atmosphere while MP residents are trying to adjust to a 'new normal'. We are waiting to hear from some of our Instagram accounts that have family within the building as to what support services and items would be the most helpful at this time (and anyone can email us via the 'Contact Us' link above).

DAYS 11 through 14 (Monday-Thursday): Cleanup efforts are continuing; a resident reports that mold is already forming in their water damaged unit so flooring is being ripped out as quickly as possible. Humidity caused by a tropical storm remnant passing over Oahu is not helping the situation. There's also some concern about asbestos exposure. The asbestos work plan is linked here: Work Plan PDF

Aloha came full circle on Tuesday when residents, volunteers and first responders came together for 'Taco Tuesday'. What a wonderful way to acknowledge everyone's efforts and gratitude for the donations that have poured in from the community.

DAY 15 (Friday 7/28/17) IN CELEBRATION OF BRITT RELLER'S LIFE: Funeral services for Britt Reller, a Hawaiian Airlines in-flight supervisor, will be open to the public at Central Union Church, with the visitation beginning at 10 a.m., followed by the memorial at 11, and a reception afterwards. Over 2,000 members are sharing their memories of this wonderful man via the Facebook group "Remembering Britt Reller" linked here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/305930513202192/ The people he touched around the world will raise a glass at 11 a.m. HST in celebration of a life well lived, though ended too quickly.

WEEK THREE (July 28 to August 3): Residents of the heavily damaged units are getting the bad news assessment that it may take six months to a year before their apartments can be occupied again. Initial damage estimates are topping $100 million at this time. Personal possessions in other units, e.g. water damaged apartments, may not be returnable to the owners due to hazardous materials exposure. Unless the property owners can pay for professional hazardous material cleanup (usually out of pocket if not covered by rental or homeowners' insurance) by restoration companies, their belongings may need to be destroyed.

Bloomingdale skincare and beauty experts will be providing TLC sessions in the Marco Polo lobby this Friday and Saturday afternoon (2 to 6 p.m.) including makeup and skincare sample giftbags along with hand massage and makeup/skincare sessions.

The resident management team on-site has listed the following donation items as being especially helpful at this time: Personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, denture cleaner, hairbrushes, shampoo and conditioner, toilet paper, paper towels, Q-tips, lotion, etc. Gift cards are also appreciated, especially for nearby vendors such as Times Supermarket, Safeway, Zippy's, McDonald's, Burger King, Jack In the Box, Taco Bell or 7-11).

PLEASE DONATE:

The Salvation Army is earmarking 100% of your donations designated for "Marco Polo fire relief services" directly to the Marco Polo fire victims. The Hawaii Chapter website link for secure credit card donations is http://www.hawaii.salvationarmy.org/. Checks payable to 'The Salvation Army' can be mailed to 2950 Manoa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, and a note can be included in the check memo indicating 'Marco Polo fire relief services' if you'd like to designate the funds for that particular cause. The Hawaii Red Cross is also accepting donations on their website at http://www.redcross.org/local/hawaii

Progress updates to the condo residents and interested parties are being provided on the management company's Facebook page located at https://www.facebook.com/AssociaHawaii/ and we invite anyone with additional helpful links to contact us for inclusion here.

During the upcoming weeks, our band of seniors will look into organizing fundraisers and we'd welcome your ideas and help for various ways to aid our unfortunate island neighbors. Our hope is that we can consolidate our skills and resources to bring back some comfort and aloha to those who have lost so much.

Video of National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific sights and sounds during Memorial Day 2016 weekend

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: A senior in his mid eighties recently told me how blessed he feels to have enjoyed a rewarding professional career, grown children with excellent accomplishments, and good health for he and his wife enabling them to still travel and cruise at their age, He further added that part of his contentment is due to knowing that when the time comes, his final resting place as a military veteran would be the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He happily described shady trees and eternal tranquility.

This discussion piqued my interest to visit these federal grounds located in Punchbowl Crater, an extinct volcanic cone created 100,000 years ago, located on the island of Oahu. The cemetery was dedicated in 1949 and is now the serene home to over 50,000 interred military fallen, veterans and their dependents. Lookouts throughout the 100+ acres of beautifully maintained land provide a panoramic view of Honolulu, Diamond Head, the ocean and our mountains.

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located within Punchbowl Crater, part of an extinct volcano on the island of Oahu. This video shows panoramic views of Honolulu from that crater,

Video of National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Memorial Day 2016 weekend ceremonies including a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps.

Generations of families serving their country and community

Memorial Day weekend was an especially fitting time to visit and honor our military. On Sunday, the local Boy and Girl Scouts troops were out in force, as it's their tradition to place flags and flower leis on each of the flat grave markers before the Monday occasion. The community is involved throughout the weeks leading up to the event, gathering flower blossoms, stringing leis and dropping off the floral donations at local firehouses for use on this special remembrance day. Ceremonies of tribute are conducted throughout the weekend, including a twenty-one gun salute and the playing of taps as seen in our above video.

As seen in this video, the Honolulu Memorial within the cemetery grounds include beautiful hallways flanked by mosaics illustrating the various military campaigns from World War II through the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Military personnel are memorialized on marble slabs in the courtyard, and a chapel and water treatments add to the solemn environment. The Statue of Lady Columbia, which is featured in the opening credits of the TV series, Hawaii Five-O, represents all grieving mothers. After spending a reflective morning on these grounds, it's easy to see why millions of visitors have paid their respects to those who have served by visiting this tranquil memorial.

See the Honolulu Memorial exhibits within the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl Crater, Oahu, Hawaii

BACK TO THE TOP]]>Memorial Day ReflectionsAn Enriching New Year's DayPetsTechAlohaForSeniorsSat, 02 Jan 2016 08:00:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/an-enriching-new-years-day53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:5688ce1240667a386919bdfa

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: What was the first thing you decided to do when you woke up on New Year’s Day? When you are a senior, you don’t take special days for granted, so I bundled my pups into the car at dawn and rolled two miles down the road towards an island seashore to watch the first sunrise of 2016. As an amateur iPhone photographer, being able to share warm glowing images to the rest of the wintery world via our social media accounts is a fun pastime.

Half a dozen early birds were already on the beach taking photos, and after I snapped some dazzling images and videos, I decided to pick up my little one and wade into the waves to take a video of glistening water rolling on and off the pristine sand.

Well, the pup decide to wriggle hard while a wave toppled into us, and down we both went into the water. No harm done, I still had a leash on my little dog and she leaped back onto dry land in a flash, but I was left ruefully staring at a fifteen month old iPhone spiraling away into the ocean. New Year’s blessing number one, no one was hurt or traumatized in the mishap.

As a cord cutter with no landline phone, you quickly realize what life off the grid without a mobile device means. You’re not going to conveniently call someone for a ride if your car keys are in the ocean (luckily not our situation). You can’t text or read/send emails.

You can’t access your bank’s mobile app to see if you have extra cash for a new phone. You can’t check the cellular provider or Apple websites to see if they’re open on a holiday. You’re not going to listen to library audiobooks while you drive home. Blessing number two, you’re better able to appreciate the things you enjoy when you can’t have them for a while.

Turns out that both Sprint and Apple were open on New Year’s Day, and I had excellent customer experiences with both companies, although the personality of each service rep was wildly different. Michael at Sprint looked impassive when I said my practically new phone was in the ocean and I was going through withdrawal. He stoically reviewed lease versus installment purchase plans, as I kept up a stream of wisecracks about how I had just purchased a new pair of earpods and didn’t plan to get a new phone nine months before the new models are due to arrive, while he kept up his humorless processing.

Only at the transaction’s end did he express slight curiosity: So, were you like on a boat cruise or something? I said, no, I was carrying a dog, and had to make a split second decision to either hold onto the dog or the phone. He then gave an involuntary guffaw and then went back to being expressionless. At the end, he handed me the bagged phone and said, happy new year, while stifling a chuckle, so I could imagine him thinking, let's see where you go from here.

Ryen at Apple processed my AppleCare insurance pro-rated refund over the phone equally efficiently, but was a barrel of laughs. He asked right up front why the phone was in the ocean, and jokingly volunteered that if he were making the same decision about his girlfriend’s chihuahua and his own phone, he would have definitely grabbed the phone. He also made logical recommendations about refund methods and insuring the new phone, and ended the call leaving me with the feeling that I had brightened up his day.

Blessing number three: There are a lot of people who are good in their profession, even in the service industry where they must also contend with customers who might be irate or unable to explain their issues clearly. Kudos to Sprint and Apple for having competent and caring associates.

The rest of the day was invested in restoring all of the new phone’s applications and functionality. Despite the fact my old hardware was only a year out of date, I encountered new Apple iPhone and iOS operating system functions including:

Medical ID ‘bracelet’ on your phone – For users like me who keep their phone password locked but go on dog walks without carrying identification, the Health app has a Medical ID module that can display emergency contact info and important medical data (like allergies) on the phone’s lockscreen, accessible by emergency personnel.

3D Touch – Geez, it seems like there are multiple ways to make touchscreens respond now, including a light tap, a long touch where you just lightly keep your finger on the screen, or applying a hard depress. This will take some practice.

Live Photos – Still images are still stored in the .JPEG format, but there’s also an underlying .MOV video file created in conjunction with each photo containing 1.5 seconds of video movement and audio preceding, as well as 1.5 seconds subsequent to the still photo being snapped. We’ll have to think of creative uses for this feature, and hope that Instagram/Facebook will evolve to display these results soon.

Blessing number four: Technology rolls along at the speed of light, some advances are fun and useful while others are aggravating, but there is always something new to learn and apply to daily living.

As we share our experiences, I am reminded that each day is what we make of it, and am resolving to do our best to be open minded and embracing during the remaining time to come. May your new year be filled with good health and aloha!

BACK TO THE TOP]]>An Enriching New Year's DayDecember is A Time For Sharing Holiday AlohaCommunity & EventsAlohaForSeniorsSat, 05 Dec 2015 18:00:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/december-is-a-time-for-sharing-holiday-aloha53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:56632034e4b0d248fad7e363

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: Tis the season to bring cheer to others including:

Those in military service away from home and the families who miss them

Housebound seniors who are wistful at the loss of their loved ones

Homeless individuals and families facing winter chill

Weary single parents struggling to make ends meet

Please share your time by writing short letters, baking some treats, visiting someone to help them pass the time, and donating any extra resources.

Nothing beats the feeling of making a difference. May you and yours be blessed with the true spirit and joy of the holidays!

BACK TO THE TOP]]>December is A Time For Sharing Holiday AlohaBlue Angels Hawaiian Airshow Community & EventsAlohaForSeniorsMon, 19 Oct 2015 06:30:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/2014/9/26/blue-angels-hawaiian-airshow53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:542651dce4b0c27751cbc6e1

October 2015 Blue Angels Hawaii Kaneohe Bay Air Show

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels touched down on Oahu this week in anticipation of putting on two airshows. Upwards of 110,000 spectators are expected to attend the events. Residents on the island's western region got to feel the power of these planes streaking overhead on Thursday, rattling residential windows and exciting our neighborhood dogs.

The roaring engines were again heard and felt for an hour late Friday afternoon as the Angels 'learn the Hawaiian airspace' via a practice session. During the weekend shows, areas of Oahu's airspace will be restricted by the FAA, causing rolling delays at Honolulu Airport from noon till five.

Residents and visitors alike are looking forward to these incredible precision Navy air shows on Hickam's field. The keikis (kids) will especially enjoy the aircraft exhibitions and fun zone with games and rides, and there are food booths for everyone.

ADDENDUM: We were saddened to hear of the loss of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, Blue Angels #6, during practice maneuvers prior to their Tennessee Air Show in June 2016. Here's a link to the #JeffKuss interview with a Hawaii local news station during their October 2015 visit:

ALOHA FROM LINDA: I recently enjoyed a family getaway to Kauai, the oldest island in our Hawaiian chain, and had such a wonderful time that I wanted to share my experiences.

My Kauai stay was centered in the Wailua Homestead area near the panoramic Wailua River. It rains practically every night, so the greenery, such wild bromeliads, grows quickly. I ended up taking a lot of pictures of neighboring yards, because of their creative landscaping and plants, like this beautiful triple hibiscus.

One of my trip highlights was being able to enjoy Kapaa Town’s Orchid Alley with my daughter. This open air nursery has hundreds of orchids for viewing and sale, including prizewinners and unusual hybrids. They also have a variety of air and exotic plants. Beautiful sights included water features that are made out of all natural materials, ponds and an enclosed area with butterflies.

Another memorable event was our visit to Smith’s Tropical Paradise in the Wailua River Valley. This is a 30-acre botanical garden and venue maintained by the fourth generation of the Smith family. Their offerings, such as a garden luau, nature walk through a fern grotto, or two mile river cruise, are the best—enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. You can see the details at their website: www.smithskaui.com

On my tour, I saw a beautiful blue chested peacock. When he spotted a female, he spread his tail feathers and went towards her pushing his feathers forward. He’d also turn around and his back end was very striking. It was a lot of fun watching him ‘strut his stuff’ and try to impress the hen.

On another day, we had a bit of excitement when a flash flood warning siren blasted on our cell phones as we approached a one lane bridge. These Kauai bridges use an honor system where no more than seven cars should travel across the bridge while the cars on the opposite side patiently wait, and then those cars can make their way across, and so on. Upon hearing the sirens, most cars turned around rather than continue across, because if heavy rains bring flash floods, then the bridge would be closed down temporarily, stranding us on the other side. Undeterred, my adventure loving daughter continued over the bridge, because she wanted to visit the shops and get a hot dog at a popular stand in the mall. We lucked out and the bad weather didn't materialize, so we enjoyed our hot dogs, and she was right--it was extra good.

Whether you are a local ‘kamaaina’ like myself visiting family (mahalo to my daughter and son-in-law for being such great hosts) or a visitor striking out on your own to the islands, Kauai is a totally peaceful place to relax and rejuvenate.

BACK TO THE TOP]]>Kauai MemoriesSolarImpulse Lands in Hawaii During 'Around the World' Flight with No FuelCommunity & EventsTechAlohaForSeniorsMon, 06 Jul 2015 04:30:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/2015/7/5/solarimpulse-lands-in-hawaii53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:5599f1f0e4b0dd60321e244c

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: Oahu is privileged to be one of only four U.S. stops for the SolarImpulse2, a Swiss long-range solar powered airplane that is currently flying around the world without a drop of fuel. The aircraft weighs 5,100 pounds, has a wingspan in excess of 200 feet and carries more than 17,000 solar panels which charge during the day in order to power the plane at night.

Pilot Andre Borschberg flew for five days and nights straight, from Nagoya Japan, over the Pacific Ocean, non-stop to Hawaii and landed at Kalaeloa Airfield on West Oahu early Friday morning. Imagine the discipline it takes to sit for that period of time in an unpressurized, unheated single pilot cockpit, sometimes wearing an oxygen mask for the high altitude portions of the flight, typically cruising at 30 to 40 miles per hour.

He and company co-founder Bertrand Piccard are alternating the pilot duties throughout the various legs of the ‘around the world’ journey, with the Japan to Hawaii stage being the most challenging. They started out on March 8th from Abu Dhabi and have already visited Oman, India, Myanmar, China, and Japan prior to arriving in Hawaii. From here, they will move on to the U.S. cities of Phoenix, Chicago and New York City. Pilot Borschberg remarked in local news interviews that he’d like to do some surfing while on the islands.

Kudos to the organizers at Kalaeloa airfield and the University of Hawaii who set up Hanger 111 for a half day educational event which was open to the public. Hundreds of us started lining up an hour prior to the 9 a.m. opening, and were ushered through in small groups to view detailed displays, informative videos, and of course the airplane itself with its wide wings and compact cockpit, gleaming and graceful. The inquisitive audience ranged from scholarly looking geeks to adventurous athletes to awestruck keikis (kids)--it was a lot of fun seeing so many gathered from all different walks of life.

For those of you who won’t get a chance to see the aircraft up close and in person, we hope that you’ll enjoy these photos and video. It’s our sincere hope that the SolarImpulse team achieves all of its goals and dreams, and that we did indeed catch a glimpse of the future today, when this renewable energy technology can evolve to the next frontier of aviation.

BACK TO THE TOP]]>SolarImpulse Lands in Hawaii During 'Around the World' Flight with No FuelBishop Museum's Hawaiiana TreasuresArt & CultureAlohaForSeniorsMon, 25 May 2015 06:00:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/bishop-museums-hawaiiana-treasures53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:5562921fe4b0cc18bc68e9a5

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: Our island's most extensive collection of Polynesian artifacts is displayed at Bishop Museum on Oahu. The state's largest museum was established in 1889 to honor Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family.

Painting gallery of Hawaiian monarchy

Nestled in the heart of Honolulu, the spacious grounds contain pavilions and a native Hawaiian garden, as well as the various buildings that house millions of cultural artifacts, natural history specimens, a planetarium and the third largest insect collection in America.

One of the buildings rotate limited engagement exhibitions. The current 'Dinosaurs Unleashed' event is popular among kids due to the animatronic dinos with roaring sound effects. There are interactive stations so that children can maneuver skeletons and dig for bones.

The Hawaiian Hall complex includes a magnificent three story open gallery, with the various floors celebrating Polynesian legends and gods and showcasing the skills applied by Hawaiians in creating tools, vessels, clothing and everything else needed to live, work and play. The raw materials used in crafting these objects are timeless: Wood, stone, leaves, dyes from plant juices, and feathers to name a few. Techniques used to weave baskets and hats, regal clothing and headdresses are explained in informative outlines or videos.

Unlike the exuberant dinosaur exhibits, the giant galleries in the Hall are hushed with reverence. The exhibits convey the harmony that existed between the Hawaiians and their way of living on the land, with respect for the elements of water, wind and stone.

Cave display of Hawaiian drawings and objects accompanied by chants and nature sounds

The Bishop Museum is a tranquil place to soak up Hawaiian culture, past and present. The organization serves our community with research and educational programs, and hopefully our residents and visitors will support and recognize their efforts by coming back often!

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: In most metropolitan cities where Chinese immigrants have settled, a cluster of shops and cultural centers known as 'Chinatown' is typically formed, and Honolulu is no exception.

Our island's Chinatown is located only minutes away from the Honolulu financial district, so in a blink of an eye, one is transported from the tall metropolitan office towers to quaint two or three story brick complexes built in the late 1800's. A number of these buildings have been restored, and are interspersed among stone guardian lions and fierce dragons decked out in good luck red and cold colors.

A four square block area contains row after row of shops and farmers' market style displays of fruit, fish, meat, and vegetables. Non-perishable imports such as clothing, plastic or ceramic furniture and knickknacks, dried foods such as jerky or noodles, and canned goods are also plentiful.

The community's activities and pace are diverse, ranging from the sedate elderly retirees playing mahjong to pass the time, to harried parents rushing about on errands, and bustling shopkeepers vying for customer patronage. When you're in the mood for an exotic meal or foreign cultural exposure, a visit to a nearby Chinatown is an interesting adventure!

BACK TO THE TOP]]>Chinatown in HawaiiHonolulu Panorama at Tantalus LookoutOutdoors & WildlifeAlohaForSeniorsSun, 03 May 2015 17:00:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/2015/5/3/honolulu-panorama-at-tantalus-lookout53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:55464b07e4b014548b7178df

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: A tranquil spot to 'stop and smell the roses' is Mount Tantalus Lookout high atop Honolulu, located in Oahu's Pu'u Ualaka'a State Park, spread over a cinder cone 2,000 feet above the city. After a twisty road drive lasting 20 minutes from Waikiki, you reach the state park where there are multiple free parking lots.

As Hawaii residents, the park is a special place enjoyed by our on-leash dogs, mainly because there are massive trees galore as shown in our photo gallery, and you know what dogs think about trees! There are a number of trails for hikers (and walkers like us) to spend anywhere from an hour to a day, depending on your mood.

A lookout point provides the fabulous views shown in our photos and video. You can see the Punchbowl Crater, Honolulu's residential as well as high-rise downtown and Waikiki areas, plus the grand Diamond Head Crater. If you park farther away and walk up the paved road to the lookout point, you can see glimpses of our vast Honolulu city below through the trees. The park doesn't close until 7:45 p.m., so many gather during the evening hours to take photos of the sunset against the darkened city skyline.

Other sights among the dense foliage within the park include a state radio tower, picnic area, smaller benches, and now and then, a flower lei returned back to nature after a visitor has enjoyed wearing it during her stay.

After a peaceful outing with the sweet aroma of cut grass lingering, the drive back down the twisty road is just as enjoyable--you can see the park's giant trees transitioning over to the hillside residences and then the Honolulu skyline and highrise buildings in the video below.

We hope that you've enjoyed this glimpse into Oahu's natural features existing in harmony with our metropolitan city. Hope to hear your comments, especially if you've visited or are thinking of visiting our state.

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: Whether you are a visitor to our islands staying for a weeklong vacation, or kama'aina (local residents) out for an evening or weekend, one of the nicest ways to immerse yourself in 'all things Hawaii' is to spend time at a resort.

We especially enjoy the Ko Olina Resort on leeward (west) Oahu, a 642-acre gated community with hotels (Disney's Aulani, Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club and soon to open Four Seasons fka Ihilani), timeshares and villas. As you can see from the photo gallery above, the lagoon and pool views are classic Hawaii.

A few restaurants are located within the resort, which gives you an opportunity to wander throughout the tranquil grounds on your way to dine. There are koi ponds, waterfall features, a wishing well, and landscaped scenery. Here are some video and photo views of these beautiful spots within the Ko Olina Beach Club, one of the hotels.

Inside the Ko Olina Beach Club hotel, you can enjoy the local touches and displays. Resources have been devoted to gorgeous flower and plant arrangements, a Hawaiian racing canoe built around 1850, and window cutouts.

The helpful and cheerful staff spread aloha among everyone that they come in contact with. We hope that you enjoyed this virtual glimpse from our post, and that you can experience the pleasant atmosphere by visiting the islands in person one day!

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: Almost every home in Hawaii, even a tiny condominium or medium sized townhouse, has a patio (lanai) to call its own and a garden to cultivate. Despite the year round wonderful warm weather, Hawaii residents still contend with garden pests such as white fly and snails, voracious birds and bees who snack on tomato/berries and bore holes, and the constant musical chairs shuffling of potted plants to determine the 'right amounts' of sunshine versus shade desired by finicky greenery.

However, when you finally get that special balance and it all works, the results can be a tranquil outdoors area where one loves to sit back and enjoy coffee and the paper, while contemplating the blooms of orchids, roses, poinsettias, the symmetry of aloe vera and cacti succulents, the sweet fragrance of plumeria and ginger, and the shapeliness of stately desert rose or jade trees. Decorative ceramic sculptures, running fountains, and happy birds and geckos (lizards) darting among the cool shade top are signs that you've achieved garden nirvana in Hawaii.

Hope that you enjoy these photos of various Hawaiian gardens during the 2015 spring season.

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: Easter Sunday on the beach in Hawaii was a poignant reminder that we live in a pretty glorious environment all year round. The spring sunrise created golden reflections on the ocean, while the waves lapped at the sandy shoreline. As the sun's glow becomes more powerful overhead, the grassy hills perk up from last night's light rain and enjoy the cool layer of dew still resting on its blades.

This video epitomizes the harmony of nature with the talent of a choir exuberantly expressing their feelings in song, while a plane created by mankind glides towards Honolulu Airport's reef runway against the glow of the sun.

Lucky that we call the 50th state our home! What was the weekend like in your region?

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: A number of us seniors have active dogs who enjoy all that the islands have to offer, including grassy parks and sunny beaches. We recently discovered that our Hawaiian Humane Society and the 'Paws on the Path Hiking Club' coordinate a monthly hike for pooches, so I decided to take my relatively sedentary six year old basenji/boxer mix on a mountain hike.

The drive up to the windward side of Oahu is always pleasant, as you can see majestic lush mountains flanking the highway. We zip through various tunnels that have been cut into some of the mountains, as shown here.

We are heading for the Maunawili Ditch Trail, the initial three-mile leg of the longer ten mile Maunawili Demonstration Trail which extends all the way to the Pali region on East Oahu. The Maunawili Ditch portion starts in Waimanalo and allows hikers to meander through a lush forest at the bottom of the Koolau Mountain ranges.

Upon arriving at the staging area, my dog blends into a group of over three dozen humans and two dozen pups, with all the obligatory social sniffing that canines greet each other with.

The hike leader describes the Maunawili trail as a well marked path, easy for beginner hikers, and anticipates that the group will trot one and a half miles up to a circular turnaround and then come back down, resulting in a nice three mile trek for this newbie pair. As we enter the trail, we're quickly immersed in a forest of tall trees and dense green fauna.

The dogs quickly adapt to the pack's procession, heading upwards on the inclining trail. Some parts of the path are quite wide, while other areas are narrow, and there are portions of the trail that slope towards the edge. A slight drizzle keeps the air moist and visibility is hazy.

Everyone trudges past the tall trees, taking care to clamber over all the tree roots and rocks that litter the path, and enjoying the distant hazy views. Here's a four minute video that gives you a feel for the pace and scenery.

The return leg of the hike goes briskly, since it's downhill most of the way. Moderate rain is now falling, which changes the cool mist to a watery drizzle, creating a brown mud carpet throughout the trail. Everyone concentrates on stepping over branches, rocks and roots without losing one's footing. The showers let up slightly as we reach our cars, so we're able to towel mud off the damp pooches. Rain continues on the drive home, with a tired dog content to watch the mists drift past the car window. A hot shower, hearty meal and long nap awaits the canine trekker at home.

Hope that you've enjoyed this glimpse into our puppy hiking adventure, and that you'll share the outings that are enjoyed by the dogs in your neck of the woods.

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: Our Oahu marine aquarium is located right on Waikiki Beach for the convenience of our many island visitors. As mentioned by Yelp reviewers, the facility is small and all the exhibits can be viewed within an hour, but we find the displays mesmerizing.

The center's resident octopus is amusing (doesn't he look like he's drowsily smiling in the above photo), and as the guide explains, octopuses are intelligent and respond to stimulation within its environment, so the facility provides objects for their octopus to explore, as well as its feeder shrimp in containers with removable lids, so that he needs to manipulate the container in order to enjoy its food.

There are many varieties of jellyfish, and some of the displays include blacklight effects, while others give you a good closeup view of these graceful sea creatures without risking painful stings.

The seahorse collection is also comprehensive, ranging from tiny and delicate to rugged and finally exotic dragon-like creatures. The aquarium's colorfully patterned manta rays glide back and forth tranquilly. Sea turtles, giant clams and the Hawaiian monk seal lounge about in their tanks.

Of course, the many exhibits of marine wildlife are beautiful, with rows after rows of different coral species, sea anemones, urchins, along with puffers, discuses, and all the marine fish made popular by 'Finding Nemo' and much more. Some short videos are included on this post to give you a glimpse, and we hope that you'll visit our Media Video page to view the longer videos -- the seahorses are especially fun to watch. Thanks for sharing in one of our favorite aquatic pastimes.

BACK TO THE TOP]]>Waikiki Aquarium: Connecting with Our OceanThe Power of NatureOutdoors & WildlifeAlohaForSeniorsSun, 04 Jan 2015 01:00:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/2015/1/3/the-power-of-nature53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:54a83eb6e4b0170492e275c7

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: Mother nature often applies the elements at her disposal to our islands' landscape. During a winter storm (our first of 2015), heavy rains and wind churned the seas and uprooted trees with seemingly little effort. Then, as her tantrum passes, the same area receives a rainbow pat and the warm caress of the loving sun.

BACK TO THE TOP]]>The Power of NatureA Senior Dog Owner's Worst MomentCommunity & EventsPetsAlohaForSeniorsSat, 03 Jan 2015 20:00:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/2015/1/3/a-senior-dog-owners-worst-moment53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:54a89f0ae4b00bf98ff48461ALOHA FROM JENNIE: I debated as to whether to write this post, since it
would serve no inspirational or 'feel good' purpose. In fact, it’s a bit of
a train wreck, so to those of you wishing to hold onto festive thoughts and
a good mood, read no further.
It was a beautiful early island morning after the first winter storm of the
year, with the sun starting to rise over the dewy landscape, a perfect time
to

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: I debated as to whether to write this post, since it would serve no inspirational or 'feel good' purpose. In fact, it’s a bit of a train wreck, so to those of you wishing to hold onto festive thoughts and a good mood, read no further.

It was a beautiful early island morning after the first winter storm of the year, with the sun starting to rise over the dewy landscape, a perfect time to drive the dogs down to their favorite beach for a walk. The three lane street leading to the shore narrows to a country road with only one lane in each direction, lining a sleepy residential neighborhood.

We glided down the road, and I slowed because a black cat darted across the street, followed a few yards later by a small dog scampering past. The street is dotted with cars parked alongside various front yards, but this seemed like an unusual amount of pet activity.

As I crawled along at a snail’s pace, I barely noticed an elderly woman on the opposite side exiting her parked vehicle with a small dog on a leash, but her larger dog caught my eye as it gleefully jumped out of her car without a leash and gracefully ran back and forth across the road while waiting for his owner to open her gate.

Unfortunately, a slow moving car appeared over the horizon and struck the dog. Now at a complete stop, I was horrified to see the forty pound dog rolling through a car’s wheel train, a sequence that occurred during a split second, and yet at the same time, in agonizingly slow motion.

A single loud long howl of pain filled the air, and then as the car slid to the edge of the road, the dog laid still. His shocked owner began to wail, bending over and gently laying her hand on her companion’s side. Her distraught and grief wracked lined face was beyond description.

You can imagine the rest of the scene, the car’s driver rushing over, neighbors spilling out of their houses trying to aid the dog and comfort the woman. There was no one at fault here, visibility was clear in the daylight, and no speeding was involved. And yet due to bad timing and circumstances, a horrible and tragic event occurred.

Illogical thoughts flowed though my mind, as I wondered what my own dog in the back seat may have been ‘thinking’ as we passed his fallen canine comrade. Did the driver know the dog owner, or was she just passing through the neighborhood? What twist of fate fuses three lives into one collision point with such sad impact?

How many times had I driven along this same stretch of road, next to pedestrians and pets, sometimes even glancing at phone emails, without incident? How many times have my own dogs not been on a leash, as they bounded with me over to the mailbox, or down to the trash dumpster, without terrible consequences?

How is it decided as to when we luck out, or when tragedy befalls us? What can I do to cherish what I treasure, because all too quickly, it can be snatched away? Accidents can occur whether you drive too slowly or too quickly. Is there anything that we can do to control our own destiny, or is it a matter of being in the wrong place, at the wrong time?

For those of you who will speed around me in the future, know that my pace will be in remembrance of an old woman, her dog, and a car driver, all of whom wish they could have the moment, before that terrible turn, back… but they can’t.

BACK TO THE TOP]]>Hawaii Bids Aloha to 2014 and Welcomes the New YearCommunity & EventsAlohaForSeniorsThu, 01 Jan 2015 10:00:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/2014/12/31/hawaii-bids-aloha-to-201453459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:54a4f1e6e4b0b6dc3e0b86eb

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: How did your hometown look and feel on the last day of year 2014? Due to our time zone status, Hawaii has the distinction of being the last state in the union to ring in the New Year, so when the ball drops in New York City's Times Square at midnight on the continental East Coast, islanders are enjoying dinnertime at 7 p.m., with a full five hours to go before 'our turn' to welcome 2015. We bring you the sights and sounds of our final eighteen hours of year 2014, from 6 a.m. to midnight.

December 31st at 7 a.m. - Hawaii's final sunrise of Year 2014

The heavy rains and traffic jams from the preceding day have faded, and at dawn we awake to nippy (for us) breezes and temperature in the 60s. Traffic is lighter than usual as some people have a full or half day off, but the cars that are on the road seem to speed towards their destinations with a sense of urgency. It's time to pack in all the final errands of the year, clean out the old cobwebs at home, literally, and prepare for the new year. Shops in Chinatown are filled with shoppers seeking char siu (roasted pork) and duck, while sales of fireworks (with permits) and alcohol are brisk. Tamashiro fish market, with its traditional crab building fixture, is doing fast paced sales of fish, sashimi, and poki, all island favorites--luckily the fish supply has been plentiful this season. A local florist supplier is moving stocks of discounted Christmas poinsettias along with vibrant bouquets of fresh cut flowers to admiring customers.

Firework shells being professionally loaded onto a barge and prepared for detonation

Firework displays on Oahu will be taking place during the big metropolitan block party at Kakaako Waterfront Park located near Waikiki/Ala Moana. Over 15,000 attendees are anticipated for the area's events which include Ferris wheel rides, food and game booths. A barge in Waikiki is expected to set off 1,800 shells over the ocean, including designs of palm trees and falling leaves. The Kahala Hotel and Ko'olina resort on the island's leeward side will have shows of their own at the stroke of midnight. President Obama and his family and friends are wrapping up their 12th vacation day in their Kailua location after a day of golf.

Beautiful traditional Japanese plant arrangement for Shogatsu (Japanese new year celebration)

Sweet version of mochi (rice cake)

Households are setting out Kadomatsu plant arrangements by their entryways. Bamboo and evergreen pine symbolizes prosperity and longevity, and plum trees represent stability, patience and consistency, desirable traits with which to take on the new year. Friends and family exchange mochi, usually the sweet rice cake morsels pictured here. Mochi is also used in savory preparations, such as soup and seafood, or grilled and coated in different sauces. The traditional pounding ceremony of the rice symbolizes the beating of ku (suffering) into submission.

As the day draws to a close, the atmosphere turns festive as family and friends begin to gather. Care is being taken by the owners of their beloved cats and dogs to make them as comfortable and secure as possible throughout the night. Everyone is starting to look forward to ushering out the tired year and beginning afresh with new possibilities. Across the globe, 2015 appears, first in New Zealand, making its way across Australia, Japan, China, Russia, Germany, England, Brazil, the coasts of the United States and Canada on Atlantic/Eastern time zones, then Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaskan and Hawaiian, and finally reaching American Samoa. Here on the islands, we have the added benefit of ringing out the old year while enjoying the tranquility of a final year 2014 sunset. Various events and revelry build up steam, including a 'pineapple ball drop' in the town of Millani. Finally, the spectacular firework displays across the state welcome 2015 with hearty bangs and booms.

Our island's final new year eve's sunset

KHON2 covers a pineapple ball drop, Hawaii's version of the Times Square event

Our distant view of Ko'olina resort's fireworks show on the western side of Oahu

As we close the door on 2014 and look forward to a fresh year, may your next chapter be filled with peace, prosperity and good health. Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (happy new year)!

BACK TO THE TOP]]>Hawaii Bids Aloha to 2014 and Welcomes the New YearSeniors' Love-Hate Relationship With Social MediaCommunity & EventsTechAlohaForSeniorsMon, 29 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/2014/12/28/seniors-love-hate-relationship-with-social-media53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:54a09536e4b0a47d0ae8c682

ALOHA FROM JENNIE: The members of our Hawaii seniors group are diverse, and so it comes as no great surprise that our perception of social media ranges from those who see it as a 'necessary evil' because viewing Facebook posts is the only way that they'll share in the lives and thoughts of dear children and grandchildren living far away on the mainland, to those who relish the platform and create beautiful journals of their photos, likes and shares for the enjoyment of their colleagues and relatives.

I didn't give it too much thought during the last few weeks when Facebook's "Year In Review" albums from many friends started to appear in my Newsfeed. You may have seen some of these photo templates from your friends as well, containing a post that states "It's been a great year! Thanks for being a part of it". You then open the 'card' by swiping up or clicking the arrow tab on the bottom of the card, and a chronological pictorial of the year's events appear, along with some narrations by your friend, and ending with 'See you next year!'. The result is very similar to the annual 'newsletters' that people have been snailmailing out with their holiday cards all these years.

As the 'tech support' person for this website, I was nevertheless startled when a slightly distressed senior came up to me the other day and asked if there was a phone number that she could use to call Facebook. She explained that the photos Facebook had prepopulated into 'her' card of annual events included tragic photos of a neighbor's house fire, which resulted in a friend's home being burned to the ground and family being displaced with nothing but the clothes on their backs and gratitude that everyone including their pets managed to escape. The senior was horrified to imagine that all of her Facebook friends and family were now thinking that she was a terrible person to commemorate images of the burned out house with festive balloons and confetti in her 'holiday card'.

I hastened to reassure the senior that if she did not click 'share' on the template, then no one else would see the card other than herself. Furthermore, the photos that Facebook prepopulates into each user's template is not selected by a 'live' human being, but rather by computer algorithms, no doubt programmed to show the images that generated the most comments and 'likes' during the year for any given user. The problem is that since Facebook does not supply a 'empathize' button, we are forced to click 'like' even for distressing posts, as a means of showing support and acknowledgement. This was somewhat reassuring to our senior, but she was still irritated that the card kept on reappearing in her Newsfeed every half week or so.

As I started to put together a Tech Q&A column to walk readers through (1) changing photos contained in their card template and (2) 'hiding' the card so that it would no longer display in their Newsfeed, I came across the Huffington Post blog column linked at the end of this post. Apparently, our senior was not the only one caught unaware by tragic images in her social media outlet. Web designer and writer Eric Meyer lost his young daughter to a brain tumor this past year, and wrote a blog post describing his feelings of unexpectedly seeing his daughter's face on his Facebook card and having to contend with the waves of grief. As a programmer himself, the writer expressed that he understood that Facebook was not being intentionally malicious, and that the templates were being generated by automation.

His blogpost generated a firestorm of comments from readers sharing their own circumstances and reactions to sad occasions that were being inappropriately commemorated in a cheerful environment, such as the passing of beloved spouses and other family members, pets, and other difficult events. The writer received a swift apology from Facebook's product manager of that particular software app, and graciously responded with a followup post indicating that he didn't blame the Facebook programming team. Our senior is gratified that she is not alone in being jarred by unexpected images being shown in her name, and that Facebook's 'sensitivity' antenna has hopefully been tweaked.

For the most part, the albums posted by our friends have indeed reflected what was no doubt Facebook's original goal: A commemoration of happy times. We revisited retirements, graduations and other achievements, additions of pets and babies to families, among other milestones and celebratory events. However, we'll also keep in our thoughts those of our friends for whom the past year may not have been as joyous, especially among our senior set.

In our Tech Q&A column linked here, we include a description of how you can either hide your unshared Facebook card, or make changes to the photo images and/or content to better express what you'd like to share. May your new year be filled with tranquility and good health.

BACK TO THE TOP]]>Seniors' Love-Hate Relationship With Social MediaWho Can We Touch This Holiday Season?Community & EventsAlohaForSeniorsSat, 22 Nov 2014 20:00:00 +0000http://www.alohaforseniors.com/blog/2014/11/22/holiday-reflections53459b4be4b030410124c5fe:5345a0aee4b0cc91fc039a3a:5470e75de4b0c229cda69cf6ALOHA FROM JENNIE: With Thanksgiving and the December holidays around the corner, we breathe a sigh of relief on making it through another year, enjoying the privilege of living in a beautiful state that is part of a powerful and relatively prosperous country, full of bountiful resources and independent citizens, with opportunities and freedoms not as readily available in the global landscape.

As I reflect upon the people that I’ve interacted with over the past year, I see those of us who have just lost a loved one, some after a long illness, some unexpectedly, some tragically. This first set of holidays after the loss will be full of grief and memories of happier past times. Nothing can take away the pain, not really, but hopefully there can be some comfort through the strength of friends, family and/or clergy.

#SalvationArmy

We see people who have had setbacks, who will need to deal with the disappointment of their children during the holidays, too young to understand why they are not in their foreclosed upon homes anymore. True, things could be worse, there are those who rent an apartment, or pay for a weekly room, or live in their cars, or a tent. I admire the fortitude of all those who are ‘making do’, as well as military families who can’t be with their loved ones during the holidays. No wonder the lower and middle class are the backbone of America.

Now and then, I see children of privilege, those who have never been without a roomful of presents under the holiday tree, who have had the best education that money can buy, and yet they’ve developed a strong sense of duty and compassion, and as adults join Doctors without Borders, or charitable foundations, not for the tax write-off or the lip service of being involved, but to sincerely better the lives of those less fortunate, because they actually see the need. There are so many who donate anonymously, or who set up private endowments, in addition to all of the public taxes that they pay. Hopefully, their voices and actions can motivate our leaders.

Finally, I see senior citizens grappling with the sadness of losing their circle of friends and family to old age and dealing with senior issues such as the high cost of medications, fixed incomes versus escalating expenses, their deteriorating physical ability and increasing aches and pains, and the loneliness of a world passing them by. Tasks and routines that were simple are now a struggle. Technology invades everything from telephones to market checkout lines. Everyone else is seemingly smarter and faster, doing everything with ease. The hustle and bustle of holidays are just additional hurdles, making the isolation and depression more pronounced.

And yet, I also see the resilience of the senior spirit. They didn’t get to where they are without a lot of trial and error, gumption, and crazy experiences. They’ve raised the children that are now out conquering the world, so to speak. Our fiercely independent seniors are the ones that help the housebound with grocery trips, and watch the children of a neighbor caught without a babysitter now and then.

#OperationGratitude

They persevere with home upkeep and repairs, and walking and bathing their dogs, even though it would be just so much easier to stay in bed. They volunteer to write letters to deployed troops, despite arthritic fingers and dimming eyesight. These seniors who push on, often by themselves with little support, because things just need to get done, are the ones that make their generation the foundation of what we have today.

As the new year approaches, I wonder what the future holds, who will give up, who will soldier on, who will remember their roots as things get easier and better, who will try to make a difference, no matter how small. Our wish to you is that wherever you are in this walk of life, that there are moments of success in your personal struggles, along with contentment, comfort, and tranquility. Happy holidays.